The Wait Is Almost Over: KDE Plasma 5.8 LTS Is Coming to Kubuntu, Linux Mint KDE

Today, December 11, 2016, the Kubuntu and Linux Mint developers were proud to announce the availability of the KDE Plasma 5.8 LTS desktop environment in the Kubuntu Backports Landing PPA repository.

It's been a long time coming, but Kubuntu 16.04.1 LTS (Xenial Xerus) and Kubuntu 16.10 (Yakkety Yak) users will soon be able to update their beloved KDE Plasma 5 desktop environment to the latest, long-term supported KDE Plasma 5.8 release. The KDE Frameworks 5.28.0 and KDE Applications 16.04.3 software suite are available as well, and these KDE technologies are also available for Linux Mint 18 "Sarah" KDE users.

"Since Linux Mint 18 KDE uses the Kubuntu Backports we both thought it would be very productive if we asked both our users to help test our work, bring Plasma 5.8 to both Xenial and Yakkety. This update will also bring updated Frameworks 5.28 and Applications 16.04.3 so your favorite applications like Dolphin, Konsole, Kate will be updated with fixes, new features," reads today's announcement.

Users are invited to test drive KDE Plasma 5.8 LTS right now

Therefore, if you're using the Kubuntu 16.04, Kubuntu 16.10, or Linux Mint 18 KDE operating systems, you are invited to install the Kubuntu Backports Landing PPA and upgrade your KDE Plasma, Frameworks, and Applications installations to the latest versions available there. KDE Plasma 5.8.4 LTS is included and is the latest release of the acclaimed desktop environment for GNU/Linux distributions.

The first set of commands listed below are for Kubuntu users. Run the first command to add the PPA and the second one to update your system and upgrade the KDE packages, an operation that will take a few minutes to complete. After that, make sure that you reboot your PC. On the other hand, those running Linux Mint 18 KDE should use the second set of instructions provided by Clement Lefebvre in a recent blog post. Have fun!